Logano drove his Ford to victory lane, edging out Ryan Blaney in the closing moments of the qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
According to Jayski’s, the event featured intense pack racing, a mid-race pit stop cycle under caution, and a chaotic overtime finish that reshaped the final leaderboard.
Race Start and Early Strategy
The evening event began under clear skies at 7:21 p.m., following a grid penalty that relegated Riley Gragson to the rear of the field for a rule violation during single-lap qualifying, according to Jayski’s.
Open entries—drivers fighting for the final few spots in the Daytona 500 field—monitored their positions closely throughout the first half. Corey LaJoie established himself near the front among the non-chartered cars, while veteran driver Casey Mears and Parker Smith battled to stay on the lead lap.
Pit Stops and Cautions Bring Drama
The complexion of the race shifted dramatically around lap 45 when the field began green-flag pit stops for fuel. According to Jayski’s, a collision occurred on pit road between Casey Mears and Riley Gragson as they navigated the entry lane, drawing the first caution flag of the night on lap 46.
The incident shuffled the running order, handing the lead to Logano as the cars cycled back onto the track. The crash damaged Smith’s front bumper but allowed him to limp back to the pit area.
Overtime Finish and Daytona 500 Qualification
The race extended into overtime, with the green flag waving for a two-lap sprint to the finish on lap 62. As the white flag flew on the final circuit, Logano held the top spot ahead of Keselowski.
Behind the leaders, another incident erupted on the final lap when Corey LaJoie made heavy contact with the outside retaining wall, collecting AJ Allmendinger. Because race officials had already displayed the white flag, the field raced back to the checkered flag under yellow-flag conditions.
Logano secured the win over Blaney, while Casey Mears finished seventh overall. According to Jayski’s race report, Mears earned a coveted starting spot in the Daytona 500 as the highest-finishing Open driver in the race, outdistancing fellow open competitors LaJoie and Smith.